Donegal man Donal Ward set to continue record of running every Dublin marathon

A Donegal man, who is one of only 11 to have participated in every Dublin marathon since 1980, will take to the line later this month.

On Sunday, October 29, Donal Ward will take part in the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon the 42nd edition of the event.

Donal is originally from Glenties and now lives in Ballybofey. He worked for An Post for over 42 years and came to Dublin when he was 17. He started running in Griffith Barracks because he lived across the road from it and would also run during lunchtime with some work colleagues. He moved back to Donegal in 1985.

 Donal will be joined by the youngest of the group Dubliner Martin Kelly (61) while Peadar Nugent (80) of Galway has the honour of being the eldest. The remainder of this legendary group is Seamus Cawley (Limerick), Seamus Dunne (Meath)  and Dublin-based Donal de Buitléir, Mick Carolan, Dominic Gallagher, Patrick Gowen and John McElhinney. Mary Hickey of Wicklow is the only woman among the nine.

“If you’re any way fit at a certain age, you’ll still walk over four miles an hour. I would never regard myself as a real ‘runner’ but it’s still something I have to do every October,” Donal said. “It’s still always a thrill to finish it and I know there’ll be a nice bottle of Malbec at some stage to celebrate.”

His favourite memory is breaking the 3:30 mark, almost 40 years ago now.

 “I broke three and a half hours in 1984,” Donal said. “It was on my mind that morning that I was going to do it and I had splits written on my hand. I said if I broke it we’d have a Winter holiday and we did - myself and my wife went to Gran Canaria”

This year Donal is hoping to go sub seven hours in the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon.

He said: “I always regarded the Marathon as something that if you enjoyed it and could do it within your own ability then why not? Last year I did it in six hours and 56 minutes, this year I hope to finish within six. Hopefully, I will jog as far as Mile 14 and walk from then on.”

Jim Aughney Race Director said: “Running every Dublin Marathon is an impressive feat, and those who have achieved that deserve legendary status.”